The transient happiness that we seem to derive from external experiences, but which actually arises only from within ourself, is in reality nothing other than our own essential being. Not only does happiness exist within us - it is in fact our true nature, our essential being. That is, since it can be experienced perfectly only in the state in which we are conscious merely of our own essential being and not of any thoughts or objects, true happiness or peace is beyond all mental comprehension. This true happiness of being is also described as ‘the peace of God, which passeth all understanding’, because it is experienced in full only in the perfectly peaceful state of just being, which is the state in which all mental activity has subsided in the clarity of unobstructed self-consciousness. True happiness is therefore the happiness of just being, which is the perfect and absolute happiness that in mystical literature is known as ‘beatitude’. To enjoy happiness, therefore, all our mind need do is to cease all activity, returning calmly to its natural state of inactive being, as it does daily in deep sleep. The activity of our mind disturbs it from its calm state of just being, and causes it to lose sight of its own innermost happiness. Happiness is thus a state of being - a state in which our mind’s habitual agitation is calmed.
When a desire is satisfied, or the cause of a fear is removed, the surface agitation of our mind subsides, and in that temporary calm our mind enjoys a taste of its own innate happiness. Desire and fear agitate our mind, and obscure from its vision the happiness that always exists within it. Whatever turmoil our mind may be in, in the centre of our being there always exists a state of perfect peace and joy, like the calm in the eye of a storm. Though we seem to derive happiness from external objects or experiences, the happiness that we thus enjoy in fact arises from within us. Happiness does not exist in any external object, but only in us, who are the consciousness that experiences happiness. Happiness lies deep within us, in the very core of our being.
The practice of ātma-vicāra - ‘self-enquiry’ or self-scrutiny.The philosophy, science and art of true self-knowledge.
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